Council of Europe condemns apparent use of chemical weapons in Syria

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Monday condemned the "apparent" use of chemical weapons in Syria and called for all chemical weapons stocks in that country to be brought under international control. In a statement from Strasbourg where it is based, PACE said that action must be taken to respond to this apparent use, which remains to be fully determined by UN Weapons Inspectors in the coming weeks. Hundreds of people are believed to have died in a chemical attack in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21 and the Syrian regime is being held responsible my many countries for the attack, although Damascus blames opposition forces. "Any use of chemical weapons anywhere by anybody, under any circumstances, constitutes a violation of international law and a crime against humanity," the Council's parliamentary body said. PACE "calls on the international community to take action to pressurise those countries which have not yet done so to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention," the statement added. The Council of Europe body also called for "urgent action to bring the stocks of chemical weapons in Syria under international control to prevent access to them by those supporting or opposing the current Government." The European body also urged "a political solution to the conflict in Syria, " calling on all parties "both inside and outside Syria ... without further delay (to) move beyond their differences towards a peace conference on Syria." The Council also said it was "appalled" by the large number of refugees created by the conflict, notably children, and urged "unhindered humanitarian assistance" for all those affected by the fighting which began in March 2011. Latest estimates put the number of dead from the conflict at 110,000 with over one million refugees outside Syria and several million internally displaced and in need of help. The Council of Europe has 47 member countries, including Russia, Turkey and most European nations, and it is charged with overseeing democracy and human rights.